10:30 AM IST, NEWSDESK– Today is Saturday, January 17, and many people are confused about bank working hours. The confusion is higher because tomorrow, January 18, is Sunday, and today is also Uzhavar Thirunal, a festival linked with Pongal. Because of these two reasons, many customers believe banks are closed today across India.
But the reality is different. Let’s understand the situation clearly in simple words.
Are banks closed today, on January 17?
No, this is not a nationwide bank holiday. As per the RBI holiday list, banks are open today in most cities because January 17 is the third Saturday of the month.
Banks in India follow a fixed Saturday rule:
- Second Saturday – Bank holiday
- Fourth Saturday – Bank holiday
- First, Third and Fifth Saturday – Banks remain open
Since today is the third Saturday, bank branches are working normally.
Then why is January 17 being called a bank holiday?
Today is Uzhavar Thirunal, which is a regional festival of Tamil Nadu. According to the RBI calendar, banks are closed only in Chennai today due to this festival.
So the situation is:
- Banks closed in Chennai
- Banks open in other cities
Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Indore, Ranchi, Raipur, and many more have normal banking operations today.
What is Uzhavar Thirunal and why does it matter?
Uzhavar Thirunal is an important day during the Pongal festival season in Tamil Nadu. It is a day dedicated to farmers, agriculture, cattle, and nature.
On this day:
- Farmers show respect to their land, crops, and animals
- Cattle are cleaned, decorated, and worshipped
- Fresh harvests like rice, pulses, and sugarcane are used in traditional food
- Villages celebrate with prayers, kolams, local music, and community meals
Because of its cultural importance, the RBI has marked this day as a bank holiday only for Chennai under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
What about tomorrow, January 18?
Tomorrow is Sunday, which means:
- Banks closed across India
- No branch services anywhere
This back-to-back Saturday + Sunday combination is why many people feel banks are closed for two days.
Which banking services will work today?
Even today and tomorrow:
- UPI payments
- ATM withdrawals
- Mobile and internet banking
- NEFT, RTGS, IMPS
- Debit and credit card payments
will continue to work normally.
Only branch-based services like cash deposits, cheque submission, or passbook updates will be affected in Chennai today and everywhere tomorrow.
Quick Talk
- January 17 (Saturday): Banks open across India, closed only in Chennai
- January 18 (Sunday): Banks are closed everywhere
- This is not an all-India bank holiday
- Always check city-wise RBI holidays and the Basic Calendar before visiting a bank branch. If you deposit a cheque today, it may be clear on Monday. So, this gives a clear idea of when to take action.
